FIRST OF ALL!

While the entire world celebrates International Women’s Day today on the 8th of March, let us look at the first Tamil/Telugu heroine, first woman director and producer in the south Indian film industry, TP Rajalakshmi, who laid down the path for beautiful, strong women to follow her course in the tinsel world. This, she did at a time when there were rigid rules and value systems for women.

Fondly called as Cinema Rani, Rajalakshmi entered the film industry through stage plays at a very young age, to support her family. She was the heroine in the first Tamil talkie Kalidas. She became so popular and was much in demand those days when only men donned on women’s roles. It is reported that people used to wait for 3-4 hours in a queue to catch a glimpse of her. She directed, produced and composed Miss Kamala, which was a blockbuster hit those days. She was a reformist and supported freedom movement. She was even jailed by the British.

Following TP Rajalakshmi, there are so many women in the film industry who have struggled and created a niche for themselves. To all those gorgeous women, a very happy Women’s Day! Keep rocking as always!